Weather sealing strip

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a sealing strip for use as a compressible sealing element between overlapped portions of panel structures, said strip comprising an elongate web of deformable elastomeric material having a number of deformable fins disposed on directly opposite sides of said web to form a plurality of chevron type seals extending longitudinally along each side of said body in transversely spaced relation and being sealingly engageable with the confronting faces of the overlapped portions of the panels, said strip including a pressure sensitive adjesive stripe on one surface of said web with a paper tear tape provided on said adhesive stripe.

United States Patent Harry Oct. 16, 1973 [5 WEATHER SEALING STRIP 702,238 3/1962 Canada 94/182 13 6 4 [76] Inventor: Henry A. Harry,415 N. Country 3 3 7/1963 w 52/393 Club Dr., McHenry, Ill. Primary Exammer-Alfred C. Perham [22] Filed: May 1, 1968 Assistant Examinerl-l. E. Raduazo No: Attorney-Wheeler, House & Wheeler 521 US. Cl. 52/409, 52/394, 52/403, [57] ABSTRACT 52/413 Disclosed herein is a sealing strip for use as a com- [51] Int. Cl. E04f 13/15 pressible sealing element between overlapped portions [58] Field of Search 52/208, 214, 393, of panel structures, said strip comprising an elongate 52/394, 403, 409, 413, 412; 94/1812 web of deformable elastomeric material having a number of deformable fins disposed on directly opposite [56] References Cited sides of said web to form a plurality of chevron type UNITED STATES PATENTS seals extending longitudinally along each side of said 2,074,497 3/1937 Voigt 52/394 b in transversely. Spaced relation. and being Seal 2923 386 2/1960 Harry I I 52/394 mgly engageable with the confronting faces of the 3:204:37; 9/19 5 Johnson I I 52/173 X overlapped P01110118 0f the panels, said strip including 3,292,330 12/1966 Tennison 52/403 8 Pressure Sensitive adjesive Stripe on one Surface of 3,336,713 8/1967 Privas 52/403 said web with a paper tear tape provided on said adhe- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS SmPe' 552,414 5/1957 Belgium 52/403 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures n'ii WEATHER SEALING STRIP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Lap jointed panels, particularly those of corrugated panel structures, are widely used to form roofs, walls and partitions. Where the joints formed between the overlapped portions of the panel structures are exposed to weather, it is of extreme importance that the joints be properly sealed. The normal sealing materials, such as caulking compounds, mastic and other additives applied in bulk form to the panels, have not been effective; are to some extent messy and are not economical. Efforts to overcome this problem resulted in the development of a sealing strip having tubular marginal portions as exemplified in my U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,386, issued Feb. 2, 1960.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention includes a sealing strip formed from a flexible elongate web having a pair of chevron type seals on each side of said web, each of said seals being transversely spaced on said web and extending longitudinally along the full length of the web. Each chevron seal is formed from an upwardly projecting outwardly inclined fin and a downwardly projecting outwardly inclined fin disposed on directly opposite sides of the web, each fin being readily deformable to conform to irregularities in the confronting surfaces of the overlapped panels. Accordingly, there are three thicknesses of overlapping sealing material where each seal is formed.

A pressure sensitive adhesive stripe is provided on one medial surface of the web to secure the strip to the panel as the strip is applied thereto. This will hold the sealing strip in position .011 the ridge of one panel until the trough of another panel is overlapped on the first panel. This facilitates installation as long lengths (up to 30 feet) can be temporarily anchored to a panel rib by one man. A paper tear tape is provided to protect the adhesive strip and is pulled off as the sealing strip is applied to the panel. When adhered, the strip resists twisting forces generated by drilling screw holes and also resists efforts of the drill-to pull the strip into the screw hole.

Other'objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the lap joint of a corrugated panel structure showing the sealing strip in the course of being applied to the crest of one of the marginal corrugations.

FIG. 2 is a section through panels with the sealing strip in position and before closing pressure is applied thereto and during the course of drilling holes to receive a mounting screw.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the shape of the strip after the panels are closed under pressure of the screws.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a sealing strip extruded in a slight curved configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

In the typical panel installation, as disclosed, corrugated panels 10 and 12 are disposed with their marginal corrugations 14 and 16 overlapping and a sealing strip 18 interposed between the overlapped marginal corrugations. The corrugated panels are rigidly secured to a frame member or support 20 by conventional fastening means such as screws 22 passing through the marginal corrugations l4 and 16 of the overlapped panels 10 and 12 with the screws being tightened sufficiently to squeeze or compress the interposed sealing strip 18 between the confronting surfaces of the overlapped corrugations. The screws may be of the self-tapping type and may be provided with metal backed neoprene sealing washers 24. Although corrugated panels are shown, the sealing strip 18 may be interposed between lapped surfaces of other panel shapes. The sealing strip can also be used with various panel materials such as sheet metal, plastic, fiberboard, cementboard, glass and glass fiber composition.

The sealing strip 18 of the invention is of elongate ribbon-like form and is interposed between and extends lengthwise of the overlapped marginal corrugations l4 and 16. The lap joint formed by the overlapped marginal corrugations is sealed by tightening panel fasten ing screws 22 to compress the sealing strip between the confronting surfaces of the overlapped panels. The sealing strip is preferably of one piece molded construction and can be formed by an extrusion process from an elastomer or its equivalent such as vinyl plastic. For sealing a typical panel joint, the web portions of the sealing strip 18 is about one-sixteenth of an inch thick. The strip is about 1% inches wide. However, the sealing strip dimensions may be varied to suit any panel conditions.

The preferred embodiment of the sealing strip 18 described herein includes a transversely curved or arched elongate web 26 having two elongated and deformable chevron seals 30 provided in transversely spaced relation on each side of a central web portion 32. Each of the chevron type seals 30 includes projecting inclined fins 34 and 35. The fins 34 and 35 which together with the web 26 form each of the seals 30 are disposed on directly opposite sides of the web 26 and have a common intersection with the web, thus to form with the web a three tined fork configuration. The plastic strip material is readily deformable to conform to any irregularities in the confronting surfaces of the marginal overlapped panels. A three layer seal is thereby formed by each set of fins when compressed against the web 26 by the overlapped panels, as shown in FIG. 3. Locating the fins 34 and 35 on directly opposite sides of the web 26 provides a full sealing effect at each of the chevron seals 30 since the fins 34 and 35 form a continuous strip through the web 26 that extends longitudinally the full length of the web. In the disclosed embodiment there are four seals in all, two at each side of the central web portion 32. The two inboard seals can be regarded as a pair and the two outboard seals can be regarded as another pair.

The web is desirably extruded from a curved die to produce a strip which is transversely curved with a concave surface 36 on one side and a convex surface 38 on the opposite side. The radius of curvature of the web should be selected to substantially correspond to the curvature of the ribs and troughs of the panel corrugation on which the sealing strip is to be mounted. The sealing strip will then nest snugly on the marginal corrugation when placed on the panel.

A pressure sensitive adhesive stripe 40 is desirably provided on the concave undersurface 36 of the central web portion 32, thus to hold the sealing strip 18 in position on the corrugation in the course of laying it thereon. One man can do the job because previously laid strip lengths will not become displaced. A paper tear tape 42 is desirably applied to the adhesive stripe 40 to protect the adhesive stripe until the sealing strip is used. Tape 42 is removed as the sealing strip is applied to the corrugation 16.

When the corrugated panels and 12 are assem bled, the lower or inner panel 10 is placed on the support and the sealing strip 18, previously or subsequently cut to the proper length, is roller along the crest of the marginal corrugation 14. The central transversely arched web portion 32 conforms to the shape of the crest of the corrugation 14 to help centralize the sealing strip with the fins 34 resting on the sides of the corrugation. The paper tape 42 is removed just ahead of the point of contact of the strip with the corrugation. The central web portion 32 should be pressed into engagement with the crest of the corrugation to assure that the adhesive 40 adheres thereto. The marginal corrugation 16 on upper panel 12 is overlapped or nested on marginal corrugation 14 with the inner surface of the marginal corrugation l6 resting on the upwardly projecting outwardly inclined fins 35. A drill 37 is generally used to drill suitable holes for screws 22. The adhesive stripe 40 for the strip will hold it against being twisted or driven into the hole by drill pressure. The fastening screws 22 are then inserted through the holes and screwed into the mounting structure 20. As the screws are tightened the sealing chevron fins will be squeezed together between the overlapped marginal corrugations and will assume the configuration shown in FIG. 3. Respective pairs of inboard and outboard longitudinal seals will then be present on each side of the central web portion 32. Each seal consists of three thicknesses of web material.

While the disclosed embodiment has two pairs of chevron seals, the number of pairs can be increased or decreased as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a combination of a compressible sealing strip between overlapped panel portions, the improvement in which the sealing strip comprises an elongated web and a pair of longitudinally extending chevron-type seals, one along each side margin of the web, said seals comprising deformable fins at directly opposite sides of the web and joining the web at common intersections spaced inwardly from the edges of the web, the fins at one side margin having free ends projecting oppositely from the free ends of the fins at the other side margin, said fins coacting with the intervening web to comprise three tined forks, said fins being disposed at an angle to the web to diverge outwardly and away from the web prior to panel pressure and which are squeezed against the web under panel pressure.

2. The invention of claim 1 in which the strip, in its free condition, is of arcuate cross section.

3. The invention of claim 1 in which one surface of a medial portion of the strip between said seals is provided with a longitudinally extending adhesive stripe to secure the strip to a panel in the course of applying it thereto, and a tear tape covering said stripe.

4. The invention of claim I in which the strip has a second pair of longitudinally extending chevron-type seals laterally spaced from the first mentioned pair, thus to provide the strip with inboard and outboard pairs of chevron-type seals, said second pair of seals comprising deformable fins at directly opposite sides of the web and joining the web at common intersections spaced inwardly from the edges of the web a greater distance than the common intersections of the fins of the first pair of seals, the fins of the second pair of seals at one side margin having free ends projecting oppositely from the free ends of the fins at the other side margin, said fins of the second pair of seals coacting with the intervening web to comprise three tined forks and being disposed at an angle to the web to diverge outwardly and away from the web prior to panel pressure and which are squeezed against the web under panel pressure.

5. The invention of claim 4 in which one surface of a medial portion of the strip between both said pairs of seals is provided with a longitudinally extending adhesive stripe to secure the strip to a panel in the course of applying it thereto, and a tear tape covering said stripe.

I. t t i t 

1. In a combination of a compressible sealing strip between overlapped panel portions, the improvement in which the sealing strip comprises an elongated web and a pair of longitudinally extending chevron-type seals, one along each side margin of the web, said seals comprising deformable fins at directly opposite sides of the web and joining the web at common intersections spaced inwardly from the edges of the web, the fins at one side margin having free ends projecting oppositely from the free ends of the fins at the other side margin, said fins coacting with the intervening web to comprise three tined forks, said fins being disposed at an angle to the web to diverge outwardly and away from the web prior to panel pressure and which are squeezed against the web under panel pressure.
 2. The invention of claim 1 in which the strip, in its free condition, is of arcuate cross section.
 3. The invention of claim 1 in which one surface of a medial portion of the strip between said seals is provided with a longitudinally extending adhesive stripe to secure the strip to a panel in the course of applying it thereto, and a tear tape covering said stripe.
 4. The invention of claim 1 in which the strip has a second pair of longitudinally extending chevron-type seals laterally spaced from the first mentioned pair, thus to provide the strip with inboard and outboard pairs of chevron-type seals, said second pair of seals comprising deformable fins at directly opposite sides of the web and joining the web at common intersections spaced inwardly from the edges of the web a greater distance than the common intersections of the fins of the first pair of seals, the fins of The second pair of seals at one side margin having free ends projecting oppositely from the free ends of the fins at the other side margin, said fins of the second pair of seals coacting with the intervening web to comprise three tined forks and being disposed at an angle to the web to diverge outwardly and away from the web prior to panel pressure and which are squeezed against the web under panel pressure.
 5. The invention of claim 4 in which one surface of a medial portion of the strip between both said pairs of seals is provided with a longitudinally extending adhesive stripe to secure the strip to a panel in the course of applying it thereto, and a tear tape covering said stripe. 